ethicist: healthcare system is 'a mess'
the u.s. healthcare system is "a dysfunctional mess" and politicians who insist otherwise look ignorant, according to a medical journal essay by a prominent ethicist at the national institutes of health.
ap/yahoo news, may 16, 2007

It is to our credit that we nurses have been discussing these issues that are finally becoming trendy for a LONG time.

So true. These are very important articles because not the medical journals and mainstream press are finally discussing the roots of the problem.
If not for nurses I fear their heads would still be in the sand.

May 16, '07

It is for the reasons mentioned in the article that I feel a lack of genuine purpose working in the hospital! I went into nursing to promote healing, and it often seems that our purpose is to make money first! Often pharamceuticals are hurting patients when used so liberally and without a definate need. When did we decide that pills are magic and start discounting prevention, wellness, nutrition, natural remedies, exercise, cognitive behavior therapy, ect. Not only are pharmaceutical companies to blame, but a lot of patients don't want to make the lifestyle changes or do the work to be healthy! There is also a lot of false information in advertising claiming health benefits that grossly misleading! Pharmaceuticals are now trying to regulate vitamins so they can charge a ton of money for those too! Can you imagine having to see a doctor to get a prescription for calcium?

May 17, '07

I'm just coming into nursing and am aware of these issues. I have been since I worked medical research back in the early to mid-90's. Nothing has changed since then except that some researchers into the pharmaceutical industry are starting to blow whistles. And they say someone new is being targeted--the R.N.

This is where we need to be aware of our patients, the physicians that care for them AND OURSELVES!!! We are the patient's advocates and the ones that the patients and families trust. Pharmaceutical companies should never dictate our care to our patients.

May 17, '07

Sounds like a fairly big dose of insurance company propaganda. The insurance companies don't like to pay for newer, possibly more effective, and always more expensive drugs. They are very much opposed to the trend to advertise directly to the consumer now.

My own ininsurance company recently sent me a list of "Generic Alternatives" for different classes of drugs. Notice it's "alternative" instead of "generic equivalent." They are pushing less expensive drugs such as glyburide and glipizide in place of newer drugs such as Actos, Avandia, Januvia, etc. These drugs are not of the same class, don't work the same way, and it is misleading of the insurer to suggest they be used in place of the others

In a capitalistic society such as ours, money makes the world go round. Most of us work to make a living, even nonprofit hospitals are out to make money. To assume that doctors and drug companies are less than ethical because of the reasons stated in this article is disingenuous.

I've attended several educational programs sponsored by drug companies. These provide good education in newly available treatments and serve a purpose. When a physician conducts such a program, it is an opportunity for other practitioners to learn. The studies that are presented are solid science.

Would you prefer to go back to the good old days before the medical advancements made by the pharmaceutical companies?

May 17, '07

I found out on Tuesday during my appointment with my pain specialist that he is leaving town for good in July for the same reasons stated in these articles. The hospital, who operated this pain clinic was bought out by a much larger hospital system back in March, and it seems that the new owners don't want to continue leasing any more space than it is "obligated to".

So much for patient care. It's all about money, just like Oramar said. As a result, our community is losing one of it's best doctors...and one of the nicest persons I have ever had the pleasure to know. I could just cry.

Sounds like a fairly big dose of insurance company propaganda. The insurance companies don't like to pay for newer, possibly more effective, and always more expensive drugs. They are very much opposed to the trend to advertise directly to the consumer now.

My own ininsurance company recently sent me a list of "Generic Alternatives" for different classes of drugs. Notice it's "alternative" instead of "generic equivalent." They are pushing less expensive drugs such as glyburide and glipizide in place of newer drugs such as Actos, Avandia, Januvia, etc. These drugs are not of the same class, don't work the same way, and it is misleading of the insurer to suggest they be used in place of the others

In a capitalistic society such as ours, money makes the world go round. Most of us work to make a living, even nonprofit hospitals are out to make money. To assume that doctors and drug companies are less than ethical because of the reasons stated in this article is disingenuous.

I've attended several educational programs sponsored by drug companies. These provide good education in newly available treatments and serve a purpose. When a physician conducts such a program, it is an opportunity for other practitioners to learn. The studies that are presented are solid science.

Would you prefer to go back to the good old days before the medical advancements made by the pharmaceutical companies?

I disagree with you on the insurance company propaganda. This ethics movement is coming from within the AMA. There is a small group of doctors who are appalled at what is going on and are starting to protest. Believe me there are a whole bunch of other doctors that not happy about the possibility of losing their drug company benefits. I have not read any articles by that group but I have personally heard the grumbling. I will see if I can find a link about the new ethics movement from the AMA.

In the article posted above you will read in the fourth paragraph from the bottom where it clearly says the rules are based on recommendations from AMA.

I don't see the AMA or a group of Harvard researchers as the ultimate experts on ethics.

I have not felt pressured to recommend the services or products of a company whose rep brings lunch to our dept when s/he comes to present an inservice. I realize this is small scale, but the principle is the same.